At Carolina One, we see more families than ever looking at Mount Pleasant, SC real estate. Mount Pleasant is a beautiful area and has lots of great properties, but the home buying process can be daunting. Here are our tips to make it as stress free as possible:

1.  Get pre-approved, not just pre-qualified – Many banks will tell you that you "pre-qualified" for a mortgage, but that only means they know they can get you a mortgage of some kind—not the specific rates and details of what you will qualify for. Instead, take the time to sit down and go through the pre-approval process, meaning you will know exactly how much you qualify for and what the interest rate and terms will be. This arms you with hard knowledge of what you can and cannot afford—and what the monthly payments will be—before you even look at houses.

2.  Have a "High," "Medium," and "Low" budget – Many people simply come up with a maximum number they will be willing to pay and call that their budget. The problem is that, invariably, you will be tempted to buy houses toward the high end of your budget, as they will offer more in terms of space, luxury or location. We recommend setting three ranges: High, Medium and Low. Your Medium range is the ideal range to buy a house in, and any house you like in that range is probably a good call. The Low budget will be the range below that. Buying in this range will come with drawbacks, but mean substantially more spending money every month. Your family should discuss exactly what sacrifices you're willing to make if you find a house in this range—fewer rooms than you wanted, a different neighborhood, a substantial fixer-upper, etc. Likewise, the High range will mean you have less disposable income, so discuss beforehand what benefits you would need to make a High range house worthwhile.

3.  Consider sleeper costs before you make an offer – Remember that owning a home comes with other costs, such as maintenance, repairs, insurance, and HOA fees for condos. Use an inspector to accurately assess what repairs you will need and get estimates for them. Factor all of these costs into whether you can afford a house.

4.  Work with a real estate agent you trust – Although it's possible to go it alone these days, DIY home hunting has drawbacks. Your realtor knows the market, knows the warning signs of a lemon, and knows how to negotiate. Most importantly, they work for you and will put that knowledge to use in your favor.

If you are looking for a new home in Mount Pleasant or the surrounding area, contact us at Carolina One and we can help you to stay within your budget!

If you've been following real estate trends over the past few years, then you may have noticed that South Carolina is gaining quite a bit of traction. More and more people have decided to move to the state due to its affordability, safe communities, and pleasant climate. It's been a great place for young couples to settle down and start families and for older couples to retire. However, one thing you might not have known is that it can also be a great place to brush up on your history! Mount Pleasant, South Carolina is an especially great place for history buffs!

 Mount Pleasant is far from being a "new" town. Initially occupied by the Sewee Indians, the area was first colonized in 1680 by English settlers, and went on to become the fifth largest settlement in North America by 1690. While it is no longer the fifth largest city in the nation, today it remains the fourth largest city in the state of South Carolina and the third largest in in Charleston County.

Mount Pleasant really began to gain traction in the 1800s, and was prominent during the Civil War, largely for its proximity to Charleston. However, it is credited as being the home of the once-secret training ground for the confederate submarine which was believed to have been responsible for the sinking of the U.S.S. Huosatonic in 1864. Today, residents of Mount Pleasant and visitors alike can see remains of the ship on display at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center in North Charleston, just a few minutes away from Mount Pleasant.

Another interesting fact about 19^th century Mount Pleasant is that it was a very wealthy community. If you owned real estate in Mount Pleasant, you were considered to be very well-off. You can still see some of the historic buildings here, the most impressive of which is probably Boone Hall Plantation, which boasts an early-20^th century colonial revival home, slave cabins dating from the late 18^th and early 19^th century, and the 18^th century Avenue of Oaks. The good news is that, if you want to invest in Mount Pleasant, SC real estate today, you'll have it much easier than the people of the past! The area is much more affordable these days, but still provides fine, high-quality homes.

 As you can see, Mount Pleasant is very rich in history! If you make the move here, you will find that there are many historic attractions to see. The best part of it all? There's always more to learn about, discover, and explore!

Anyone considering buying a home in South Carolina should look closely at Mount Pleasant, SC real estate. Mount Pleasant is often thought of as an exclusive town, but there is a surprising selection of mid-range homes. Here are four of the top reasons to buy real estate in Mount Pleasant:

1.  Easy access to Charleston – Mount Pleasant gives you a short, easy drive to Charleston with none of the drawbacks of living in a city. Located just across the Cooper River, Mount Pleasant residents have an easy commute into the city for work or nightlife, but get to enjoy the slower pace, larger yards and greener landscapes of a smaller, historic town. The 8-lane bridge over the river provides a smooth and uncongested drive between the cities. This proximity is a plus for all Mount Pleasant, SC real estate.

2.  Charm and beauty – Mount Pleasant was named accurately. Located on both the river and the coast, Mount Pleasant offers scenery that is the envy of the South. Oak-lined lanes lead to old plantation homes, while parks and the surrounding countryside stay green year-round. There are hidden local fishing spots, a bustling harbor, lots of outdoors recreation, and beaches within a short drive. The town's natural and historic beauty have made it a destination for vacationers who are seeking fun and relaxation, and also make it the perfect place to live.

3.  The community – The town doesn't just look nice; it's also full of nice people. Mount Pleasant property owners tend to be a warm and close-knit group, who are looking to improve the community. This comes partly from Mount Pleasant's history a small town, where people still say hello to each other on the street, and partly from the caliber of buyer who tends to be attracted to Mount Pleasant in the first place—often established or up and coming professionals who believe a rising tide lifts all boats.

4.  Home values – No matter how nice a community is, the bottom line is always the final decider in real estate. With Mount Pleasant real estate you can be assured of property values that will rise for years to come. Mount Pleasant has been an in-demand area for centuries. Founded in the 1600s, it has a long-established reputation as the ideal place to live or visit, reflected in the strong appreciation of its property values even when other zip codes are struggling.

Are you considering buying real estate in Mount Pleasant?

At Carolina One, we spend a lot of time talking about the beauty of the property that we help our customers to find in the best part of the Palmetto State. When people think of beautiful places to live in South Carolina, most immediately think of the great city of Charleston. Charleston is famous for its beauty and history, but there is a lot more to be found in the area. Mount Pleasant, SC is just as beautiful as Charleston, and the town that used to be one of the state's best-kept secrets has become one of its most rapidly expanding areas. Charleston may have its share of historic sites, but the history of this town may surprise even some of its current residents. If you're looking to live in an area that is loaded with history, Mount Pleasant, SC real estate may be exactly what you're looking for.

Before settlers arrived in the late 17^th century, the area was occupied by Sewee Indians. The first settlers from England arrived during the summer, under the leadership of Captain Florentia O' Sullivan. The land he settled became the Village of Mount Pleasant and, on the earliest maps of the town, it was called "Old Woman's Point" and "North Point." In 1706, the Province of Carolina dealt with attacks from both the Spanish and the French. The area between Shem Creek and the Wando River was famous for its deep water and good timber, so it soon became an important part of the area's industry.

When British forces were determined to take Charleston during the Revolutionary War, countless brave citizens of Mount Pleasant fought successfully to defend it. During the Civil War Era, the first meeting to determine secession resolution for the state of South Carolina was held in Mount Pleasant at the Ronkins Long Room. Like much of the south after the war, the area had a long and hard road of recovery ahead of it, but parts of Mount Pleasant did very well. The African-American population of the area flourished after the Civil War, and it became known for being one of the first African-American communities to be formed in Charleston. 

Robert Scanlon was a former slave and freedman carpenter and, after purchasing the property that was formally known as Remley's Plantation, he became the president and founder of the Charleston Land Company. One-hundred African-American men joined together to divide up the land, and the area became known as Scanlonville. Scanlonville and the Charleston Land Company became one of the only four known cooperative business ventures among freed African-Americans after the Civil War. During the 1930s, Mount Pleasant's very own Riverside Pavilion became one of the only places African-American Charleston residents could see black performers. Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, B.B. King, and other jazz legends frequented the region. The area has seen a lot of changes since its founding centuries ago, and the recent population growth is a sign that Mount Pleasant, SC isn't done creating history just yet.